The Finance Minister, Matia Kasaija has kicked the Edgar Agaba, the Chief Executive Officer of the National Gaming and Lotteries Board out of office over charges related to corruption he is facing.
Agaba, together with the body’s manager in charge of finance and administration, John Patrick Kazoora was three weeks ago arraigned before the Anti- Corruption Court in Kololo and charged with theft of shs600 million.
They were later released on bail.
However, in a July 19 letter, Kasaija has ordered Agaba to vacate office with immediate effect until the case is disposed of.
“In light of the above communication and the fact that the charges levied against you relate to financial impropriety against the board, it is necessary that you step down as the Chief Executive Officer of the National Gaming and Lotteries Board as we await the outcome of the criminal proceedings,” reads in part Kasaija’s letter.
“Therefore in accordance with section F-s(8) of the Uganda Public Standing Orders, I hereby interdict you from exercising the powers and functions of your office with immediate effect as we carry out internal investigations and also await the decision of the court on the charges levied against you.”
According to the Finance Minister’s letter also copied to the undersecretary, Agaba will receive only a half of his basic salary and will not be allowed to leave the county without permission.
He has been asked to hand over office and any government property that he has in his possession to the board chairman.
Charges
Agaba was arrested by detectives from the Criminal Investigations Division in Kibuli and the State House Anti -Corruption Unit before being arraigned before the Kololo based Anti- Corruption court’s chief magistrate, Pamela Lamunu and two charges related to theft read for them.
He was charged with embezzlement and causing financial loss to government contrary to the Anti –Corruption Act 2009.
The state alleges that Agaba and others still at large between October 2018 and February 2019 wrote to the Ministry of Finance authorizing the payment of Shs352 million meant for facilitation for sensitization activities to be held at various hotels for two days yet in the actual sense, the said activities had taken only one day.
The state also alleges that the group between January and May 2019 sent documents to the Ministry of Finance authorizing the payment of Shs360 million meant for mobilization activities for Boda BodaEdgar Agaba riders yet it had been done for only one day.
The state prosecutor told court that investigations into the case are still ongoing.
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